Medicare ripoff

[YeshuaIsa53]

I heard insurance and drugs have to get more expensive. Already been warned about it. I hope and pray they were wrong.

 

[twodog max]

When I retired I kept my employer supplied health insurance. My wife was also on the plan. The premiums deducted from my pension were around 500 per month. We turned 65 got on Medicare. The premium remained the same. Three years ago we were told that our plan was moving to a Advantage plan from United Healthcare however we had the option to stay on the old plan and can switch back anytime if I were to so choose. My premium went from 500 per month to 32 dollars per month. We were told to only use the card from United and we would not need our medicare card. It was like I got a 500 per month pension increase. We never had to show the medicare card again. The bills for my wife's unsuccessful battle with cancer were astronomical. Most charges were negotiated down.
To date United has paid off on everything except my tiered prescriptions. I can call customer service and they sound like they live in the US and have always handled any questions satisfactorily. I am quite satisfied with this plan.
We were told in a online forum about the plan when it started that how this is done is that Medicare allows United to take over administration of our medicare part of health insurance and that in return Medicare pays United to administer this process for them. We we told this allows Medicare to not have to administer our Medicare and thereby reducing the costs to Medicare in overhead and personnel.
After three years and many procedures, hospital stays, etc for both of us I am well satisfied.
I look at it like this we both paid into medicare for all our working lives and right now we are getting back our decades of paying into the system. True you do not get something for nothing. And we did not either we paid in advance.
We have been to multiple points of treatment with many different providers and not once been told they did not accept our plan.
So far it has worked out well for me and my late wife.

 

[AugieTN]

Here's a healthcare provider who said they would let people know if their Advantage plan would be cancelled. Hopefully all healthcare providers will do the same if they are dropping people from their plan

 

[SMSgt]

The disadvantage of Advantage plans is is you move, your plan will not necessarily move with with.

If a medical facility accepts Medicare, they have to accept your supplement. Medical facilities do not have to accept Medicare and Texas and Florida lead the nation in facilities that don't.

Just another factor to keep in mind if you're thinking of moving and are on an Advantage plan.

Speaking for Florida, I have had only one doctor stop accepting Medicare. In fact, he stopped accepting all insurances and went personal payment only. He's doing fine. Everyone else has accepted Medicare. In fact, after a recent hospital stay, several doctors said to keep standard Medicare as everyone accepts it.

 

[GaryS]

I'm going by what the retiree benefits lady at my old agency told me when I called about transferring my insurance when we moved to Texas. She said that if they accept Medicare, they have to accept the supplement no matter where that's from. And that Florida and Texas are the states with the most facilities that don't accept Medicare.

Of course an area with a lot of retirees on Medicare probably would have a lot of facilities that will accept it.

There is a free standing Emergency Room very close to me. It would be convenient if I had a minor something or other, but didn't need a more extensive work up. I was at a street fair in my city and they had a display there with people handing out information. I asked one of the people if they accepted Medicare and the answer was "not yet." Apparently, and unsurprisingly, there is complicated process to get approved.

Speaking for Florida, I have had only one doctor stop accepting Medicare. In fact, he stopped accepting all insurances and went personal payment only. He's doing fine. Everyone else has accepted Medicare. In fact, after a recent hospital stay, several doctors said to keep standard Medicare as everyone accepts it.

 

[Sistema1927]

I don't understand the system, or how it works. We have Medicare and a supplement through my retirement. We have some co-pays, and a maximum out of pocket per year of $2500 each.

My wife is battling both cancer and renal failure, and I certainly don't know how the providers are being paid. We underwent five weeks of intensive home hemodialysis training, and I am now treating her at home. All equipment and supplies (this month's order was 450 lbs. of stuff) are provided with no co-pays. I scratch my head wondering how this is sustainable.

 

[Nevada Ed]

My new (last year) company that gave $60 a month for food etc and $30 for Rx and a card for OTC stuff;

just cut the ribbon a little shorter , by combining the two to a sum of $$ that is less for the coming 2025 year.

Is someone feeling the pain, yet ?

 

[Autonomous]

The system is twisted. If only we could get someone as brilliant as E. Musk to take a look at government spending. Your vote matters.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Everyone needs to write to their congressman an tell them that we want the same retirement and healthcare deals that they have given themselves.

John

PS: yeah I know... good luck with that!